I’ve been having this conversation a lot lately as the new Zoo-to-Community Coordinator. Zoo-to-Community is a program that was started in 2006 to provide local residents better access to the Zoo. Three years ago, we received starting grants from the City of Oakland, Maddie’s Fund, and other local funders, and began spreading the word about free and subsidized field trips to the Zoo for Child Development Centers, Head Start programs, and elementary schools in Oakland. Additional funders have joined in support of this program, including the Fremont Bank Foundation.